Fluid-receiving container with volumeresponsive pressure-relief and overflow valve assembly



Nov. 22, 1955 p. KRUPP 2,724,418

FLUID-RECEIVING CONTAINER WITH VOLUME-RESPONSIVE PRESSURE-RELIEF ANDOVERFLOW VALVE ASSEMBLY Filed March 2, 3 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 39 4 /406445 m4 0 m/ 14 4/ 1 t nufi g hfl 5 2,724,418 Patented Nov. 22, 1955FLUID-RECEIVING CONTAINER WlTH VOLUME- RESPONSIVE PRESSURE-RELIEF ANDOVER- FLOW VALVE ASSEMBLY Carroll P. Krupp, Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio,assignor to The .B.,F. Goodrich Company, New York, N. Y., a corporationof New York Application March 2, 1953, Serial No. 339,661 10 Claims.(Cl. 150-.5)

The invention relates to fluid containers and safety valve assembliestherefor, and especially to a container of the movable wall type havinga volume-responsive pressure-relief and over-flow valve assembly.

Objects of the invention are to provide an improved fluid containerhaving provision for relative wall movement or distensibility and foravoidance of bursting from internal fluid pressure, especially whenbeing filled; to provide for overflow of contained fluid in response toa determinate volume of fluid in the container and for variation. in thedeterminate volume at, which overflow occurs; to provide for relievingthe internal fluid pres sure; to provide for visually indicating thepresence of a determinate volume of fluid in the container when it isreceiving fluid; to provide for internal pressure-relief and overflow offluid when the container is being partially or entirely filled; and toprovide for simplicity and imperviousness of construction, convenienceof manufacture and for eflectiveness of operation.

Other objects are to provide an improved distensible container suitablefor receiving and temporary storage of fluid such as a liquid; toprovide for exhausting trapped air or gas from within the containerespecially when it is receiving the liquid; to provide forcollapsibility, portability and compactness of packaging of thecontainer; to provide an improved safety or pressure-relief and overflowvalve assembly operative in response to determinate movement of amovable wall of the container; and to provide for simplicity anddurability of construction and for reliability and effectiveness ofoperation of the valve assembly.

, These and other objects and advantages of the invention will beapparent from the following description.

In the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification andin which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughoutthe same,

Fig. l is a perspective view of a fluid-receiving distensible containerin its filled condition having apressurerelief and overflow valveassembly and constructed in accordance with and embodying the invention,

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the container taken along line 22 of Fig.1,

Fig. 3 is a sectional view like 2 but showing the container in apartially filled condition,

Fig. 4 is a sectional elevational view of the pressurerelief andoverflow valve assembly mounted as shown in Fig. 1 and arranged in itsnormal non-locked operative condition, parts being broken away,

Fig. 5 is a sectional view like Fig. 4 but showing the valve assembly inits locked condition, parts being broken away,

Fig. 6 is a side elevational view of the valve assembly shown in Fig. 4,parts being broken away and in section, and

Fig. 7 is a sectional clevational view like Fig. 4 but showing amodified valve assembly in its normal nonlocked operative condition.

, In the illustrative embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 6,inclusive, the construction includes a closed container 10 having anapertured wall 11 movable toward and away from an opposite wall 12 ofthe container, in combination with a pressure-relief and overflow valvemeans or assembly 13 mounted on the movable wall 11 at the aperture 14therein and movable therewith,

and manipulating means 15 connected to the opposite wall 12 and to thevalve means 13 operative to open the valve means for communicationtherethrough of the interior of the container with exterior thereof uponmovement of the movable wall 11 and the valve means 13 a determinateextent away from the opposite wall 12. The closedcontainer 10 and valveassembly 13 structure is suitable for receiving fluid 30 such as a gasor liquid and for storing the contained fluid temporarily or as long asmay be required for the intended service Without objectionable leakageand without bursting under internal fluid pressure. The container may beof suitable design and construction having the apertured movable wall 11for providing a distensible structure, and may be of spherical,cylindrical or generally so, oval, or other suitable shape.

For the particular embodiment shown especially in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, theclosed container 10 is elongate and of the flexible distensible portabletype adapted to be collapsed and compactly folded and packaged as fortransportation and shipping purposes, and adapted to receive and store afiuid 30 such, for example, as a liquid which may be water, oil,gasoline and the like. The closed container 10 is capable of use as awater tank or a gasoline or other fuel tank and suitable for thetransportation of gasoline by automotive trucks, or for temporaryinstallations such, for example, as emergency or temporary military airfield bases or troop bases and the like, where portability,collapsibility, inexpensiveness, ease of assembly and use, anddurability are important.

To these ends, the container 10 may be of elongate tubular form and maybe of generally rounded or oval shape in lateral cross-section withgenerally rounded closed ends in the fully filled condition as shownespecially in Figs. 1 and 2, so that the upper wall constitutes themovablewall 11 and the base or lower wall constitutes the opposite wall12.

'lhe wall of the container may be made of suitable flexible sheetmaterial having an intermediate layer 16 or a plurality thereof ofsquare-woven textile fabric sheet material of cotton, nylon, rayon,glass fibers or other suitable, filamentary material having the desiredstrength characteristics, and desirably coated or calendered or,otherwise treated on both sides with a suitable natural or syntheticrubber composition. The wall sheet material of the container may alsohave an outer protective layer 17 fabric and rubber materials. seams 20,20 at the joinder of the patterns may be of overnylon barrier layer 19between the inner layer 18 and the intermediate fabric layer 16 forincreased imperviousness. Thejcontainer may be produced by assembling,joining and adhering together, in a suitable known manner and i as shownin Fig. 1, a plurality of pre-cut patterns of suitable flexible sheetmaterial having the respective layers 16 to 19, inclusive, and thensuitably vulcanizing the assembled parts of the container providing thegenerally oval shape shown in Fig. 1, so as to unite integrally the Thelaterally-extending lapped, fabric tape reinforced construction forincreased burst-resisting purposes. tainer 10, a plurality oflongitudinally spaced-apart flexible handles 21, 21 desirably ofrubberized fabric construc- To facilitate handling the contion, may besecured and bonded to each of the longitudinal side portions of thecontainer.

For filling and emptying purposes, a short length of reinforced rubberhose 22 having at one end a separable connector fitting 23 may becentrally and sealingly secured to an end wall of the container 10, thehose 22 having at its other end a suitable shut-off valve 24 forcontrolling the flow of fluid or liquid 30 to and from the containerthrough the hose 22 and fitting 23 and for connection to a suitableconduit 25 associated with a source of fluid-supply or a fluid consumerstation. in some applications it may be desirable to use the hose 22 andvalve 24 for emptying purposes only, in which case the container may beprovided with afiller and detachable cap fitting 26 mounted onthe'movable or upper wall 11 of the container for connection to asuitable source of fluid through a suitable hose 27 (shown in brokenlines in Fig. 1).

The fabric reinforced, impervious rubber construction of the containeradvantageously makes feasible a completely collapsible, impervious,distensible container adapted to be arranged or folded in atransportable compact package and subsequently disposed lengthwise in anextended collapsed condition upon a supporting surface which may be animpervious cover or ground cloth 28 of suitable rubberized fabricresting upon level ground, a concrete'floor, a wood platform or otherstiff flat surface preferably of horizontally level contour. Also, sucha construction has provision for. sustaining a ten per cent ("10%)overload in rated'normal capacity of the contain'er Without burstingfrom internal fluid pressure, by virtue of limited stretchability of thewall material especially at the closed ends of the container.

To the ends of eliminating effectively bursting of the container as fromaccidental objectionable overloading of the container, together withventing trapped gas or air and visually indicating the presence of adeterminate volume of fluidor liquid 30 within the container especial-Iy during the filling operation, the invention provides thepressure-relief and overflow valve means or assembly 13 mounted on themargin of the movable upper wall 11 at the aperture therein incommunication with the interior of -the container 10 and operativelyassociated with the manipulating means 15 within the container. Thevalve assembly 13 maybe spaced from each closed end, desirably centrallytherebetween, and may be located to overlie the longitudinal axis of thecontainer in its distended condition.

The construction of the valve assembly 13 as shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6,includes a body member 31 having a fluid-conducting passage 32therethrough and a seat 33 for a closure element 34. The body member ispreferably of ring-like form and stiff corrosion-resistant material'such, for example, as aluminum alloy, stainless steel or other suitablemetal, or .a suitable stifi plastic .materiz-il. 'The'body mem'ber'hasspaced-apart annular o1" circular 'end'faces 35,36 of substantial widthand a continuous annular or circular wall 37 .therebetween ofsubstantial lateral thickness and stiffness and short longi tu'dinal oraxial length defining the vinternal .fluid-conducting passage 32 fromend face 35 to end face 36 and i I in part ofthemargin of the upper wall11 in sealing relation thereto and for registering therein a peripheralpart of an attaching flange 3? of aluminum alloy, for example. Theattaching flange constitutes in part means for mounting and attachingsealingly and adhesively as by a suitable rubber cement, the valveassembly 13 to the upper wall 11 for movement therewith, as shown inFigs. 4, 5 and 6.

The attaching flange 39 may be of circular plate-like form having acentral circular opening and adjacent thereto a plurality ofcircumferentially spaced-apart relatively smaller circular openings orports 40, 40 for conducting fluid and for disposition in the passage 32.The attaching flange 39 has radially outward of the ports 40, 40 aplurality of circumferentially spaced-apart holes for alignment withinternally threaded holes in the upper end face 35 of the body member 31so as to receive suitable threaded bolt fasteners 41, 41 whichthreadedly engage the body member and press the attaching flange 39 andmargin ofthe upper wall 11 tightly against the upper end face 35 of thebody member 31.

The body member 31 has a tubular open-ended guide element 42 having alower end wall 42a and disposed axially and centrally of the passage 32.The guide element is fixedly supported from the annular wall 37' bymeans of a suitable multi-ported internal web 43 interconnecting suchguide element 42 at the lower end wall 42a thereof and the annular wall37 as shown especially in Fig. 4, the Web 43 being desirably between theend faces 35, 36 and adjacent the annular seat 33 to provide spacebetween the web and the attaching flange 39 for the passage of fluid.The guide element 42 is desirably cylindrical, and has a stepped bore42b axially therethrough for accommodating yieldable actuating means orvalve stem structure 44, and projecting upwardly through the centralopening of the attaching flange '39.

The valve stem structure 44 includes an elongate tubular stem 45 ofaluminum alloy, for example, having a uniform bore 46 extending from itslower end and terminating short of its upper end in an enlargedoutwardly tapered bore 47. The tubular stem '45 has a reduced uniformdiameter, externally threaded in part, lower end portion 48; anexternally threaded upper end portion 5i and a relatively largeruniformdiameter, smooth, cylindrical intermediate portion 49 having akeyway 51 therein for slidably engaging a key portion 52 of the guideelement 42 in the smaller diameter lower end bore thereof to preventrotation of the stem 45 relative to the guide element, whilefacilitating axial sliding movement of the stem relative to the guideelement.

A uniform diameter tubular sealing gasket or plug 53 of suitableresilient rubber is detachably wedged in the tapered end vbore 47 of thestem 45 at its upper end portion for detachable gripping and sealingengagement with the "manipulating means 15. A thin, circular, fiatretaining washer 54 of steel, for example, having a radial slot thereinoverlies the upper end of the sealing gasket 53 and of the .stem 45. Aninternally threaded hollow hexagon nut 55 of aluminum alloy,for'example, having a centrally apertured upper wall is telescopicallyand threadedly engaged with the threaded upper end portion 50 of thestem, so that the gasket 53 and the retaining Washer 54 are enclosedwithin the nut and held securely in engagement with the stem. Thearrangement provides for axial movement of the stem, gasket, washer andnut as a unit, and also for separation of such parts as for adjustmentpurposes to be discussed more fully .hereirb after.

The hexagon nut 55 may beprovided with radially'projecting,diametrically opposite mounting pins 56, 56 of steel, for example, whichmay have threaded engagement with the nut as shown especially in Fig.4.Locking means or a cam lock 57 may be pivotally mounted on the pins 56,56 to ,providefor a normally yieldable closed setting as shown in Figs.4 and 6, and a locking setting of .the valve stem structure 4.4 as shownin .Fig. 5.

The actuating means 01' valve stem structure 44 includes yieldable orresilient means associated with the body member 31 andc'omprising'desira'bly a coiled metal spring 58 of uniform diameter andcompression type disposed telescopically about and along the stem,45 atits.

smoothcylindrical intermediate portion 49 and disposed within thetubular guide element 42. The spring 58 is supportedaat its lower end orbase by the bottom end wall of the guide element and supported at itsupper end by the lower face of the hexagon nut 55, while the adjacentannular wall of the guide element 42 facilitates maintaining the axial.alignment of the coils of the spring 58 i. e. prevents tilting of. thespring. The arrangement makes feasible resiliently urging the axiallymovable valve stem structure 44 in the axial directionoutwardly awayfrom the upper end of the tubular guide element 42, so that in thenormally yieldable closed setting of the valve assembly, shownespecially in Figs. 4 and 6, the movable closurejelement 34 associatedwith the valve stem structure 44 is urged toward and resiliently andsealingly pressed against the annular seat 33, and

increased internal fluid pressure within the container in" t The sealingelement 60 at its periphery has an annular,

inclined or conical sealing surface 61 of resilient rubber for matingcontact with the annular, inclined seat 33. The closure element 34 isdetachably mounted on the valve stem 45 at its lower end portion 48 bymeans of an aluminum washer 62 and an aluminum hexagon nut 63 threadedlyengaging the threads of the end portion 48,so that the closure elementis clamped tightly. and sealingly between the lower end of the largerintermediate portion 49 of the stem 45 and the washer 62 and nut 63.This compels axial movement of the closure element 34 toward andawayfrom the annular seat 33 upon corresponding movement of theactuating means or valve stem structure 44 to close and open the passage32 in the body member 31, and thus prevent or permit the flow of fluidfrom within the container through the ports of the web 43 and of theattaching flange 39 to the exterior of the container.

Desirably, an annular or ring filter 64 .of mesh copper screen material,for example, and inverted U-shape in cross section may be disposed inthe annular space between the web 43 and the attaching plate 39 toprevent the entrance of dirt or other foreign material through the portsof the valve assembly 13 and into the container. To operate the valveassembly '13 in response to a determinate extent of movement of theupperwall 11 away from the base or lower wall 12 ofthe container,

or in response to a determinatevolume of fluid or liquid within thecontainer, the manipulating means 15 may be a flexible tension member orpull element 65 such, for example, as a cable of stainless steel wirehaving a series of spaced-apart, small diameter, stainless steeladjustment balls 66,. 66 swedged on or otherwise suitably secured to thewire cable. The spacing between the adjustment or position-indicatingballs 66, 66 may be substantially regu lar and desirably suchas toindicate approximately equal increments in volume of contained fluid orliquid such, for example, as increments of 50 gallons of liquid forcontainers of several thousand gallon capacity.

The pull element or cable 65 may be fixedly attached in a suitablemanner at its one end to the 1owerwall12 so as to underlie directly thevalve assembly, and extends from such attachment upwardly entirelythrough the bore 46, 47 of the valve stem. 45 and beyond the valve stemstructure 44 as shown in Figs. 1 to 6, inclusive, and may terminate atits other end exteriorly of the containerin afsuitable handling loop.67. A desired adjustment ball 66 is gripped or jammed firmly andsealingly in the bore ofthe sealing gasket 53, so that the ball andcable cannot move axially relative to the gasket 53 and stem undereither downward or upward pull onthe cable 65, when the washer 54 andnut 55 are threadedly engaged with the stem45 as shown. 1

Adjustment of the position of engagement of the valve assembly 13 withthe pull cable i. e. the length of the connection between the lower wall12 and the valve assembly as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, which lengthestablishes the maximum height to which the upper wall 11 can risebefore the valve assembly automatically opens, is accomplished asfollows.

Assuming the valve assembly in the condition shown in Figs. 4 and 6, thenut 54 having the cam lock 57 pivotally mounted thereon is unscrewedfrom the threaded upper end portion 50.01 the valve stem 45, and thenthe radially slotted retaining washer 54 is slipped sidewise off thecable 65 to uncover the sealing gasket 53. Outward pull on the cable 65forces the gasket 53 out of the tapered end bore 47 of the stem 45,after which the gasket 53 and remaining parts of the valve assembly canbe slid along the cable to any desired adjustment or position-indicatingball 66. Then the gasket 53 and ball 66 therein are forced back into thetapered end bore 47 of the stem 45, and the retaining washer 54 and nut54 are re-assembled with the stem.

In the operation of the container 10 having the pressurerelief andoverflow valve assembly 13 in its normally yieldable closed condition orsetting mounted on the flexible distensible upper wall 11 of thecontainer, and also connected to the manipulating means 15 and to thebase or lower wall 12 of the container as shown in Fig. 2, for example,with the container being empty and fully collapsed, the upper wall 11and valve assembly 13 rise initially from a position against the basewall 12 in accordance with the increase in height of the level ofcontained gasoline, for example, while the container is being filledwith gasoline through the inlet hose 22, for example, or alternativelythrough the hose 27 and fitting 26. The upper wall 11 in a tensionedcondition and the valve assembly 13 will rise to a determinate heighthat which the pull cable 65 is taut, whereupon slight additional upwardmovement or lifting of the upper wall 11 and valve assembly 13 as aconsequence of a slight amount of trapped air within the container, oras a consequence of additional gasoline, or both, overcomes thecompressive resistance of the valve spring 58 and produces automaticopening of the valve assembly 13 to reducethe internal fluid (air and/orliquid) pressure, or to permit overflow of excess contained gasoline, orboth, until the upper wall and valve assembly return to the determinateheighth to facilitate automatic closing of the valve assembly. Suchfunctioning of the valve assembly occurs whether the container is beingcompletely filled with gasoline as shown in Fig. 2, or only partiallyfilled with gasoline of determinate volume as shown in Fig. 3. When thecontainer is filled as desired, the valve 24 of the inlet pipe 22 isclosed, or the hose 27 removed and fitting 26 closed.

It is to be notedthat when the upper wall 11 in a tensioned conditionand valve assembly 13 have moved away from the base wall 12 adeterminate extent established by the determinate volume of containedgasoline and under the influence of the rising level of containedgasoline, the pull cable 65 is taut and exerts some downward pullingforce on the valve stem structure 44, which pulling force is resistedefiectively by the compression spring 58, so that the closure element 34remains seated against the seat 33. However, additional upward movementof the upper Wall and valve assembly as from distension of the upperwall by trapped air, or from greater volume of contained gasoline due toextra and continued filling of the container, increases both thetautness and the downward pulling force of the pull cable 65sulficiently to overcome the resistance of the: compression spring andproduce limitedaxial sliding movement of the valve stem structure 44such that the closure element 34 moves away from the seat 33 to breakthe seal and thus permitthe passage of fluid outwardly through the valveassembly I When the container is being filled to its full capacity or toits determinate partial capacity, the valve assembly 13 advantageouslyopens when the upper wall 11 has distended or moved, under the influenceof the rising liquid level, to a very slight extent beyond the desireddeterminate position above the base 12, whereby trapped air, if any, mayescape to the outer atmosphere. This is advantageous to eliminatetrapped air for the fully filled condition, or to minimize the volume oftrapped air for the partially filled condition. The valve assemblyfunctions similarly when the upper wall is distended as by gasolinevapor or gaseous mixture above the body of contained liquid gasolineresulting from the heat of the sun, for example, on the container, tofacilitate the escape of the gasoline vapor or mixture to the outeratmosphere where it is greatly diffused to reduce the explosive hazard.

Also, when the level of the liquid gasoline in the container reaches thepredetermined height established by the desired volume, the valveassembly 13 automatically opens under the influence of additionalgasoline producing increased downward pulling force exerted by the pullcable 65, so that the gasoline flows out of the valve assembly to theexterior of the container and serves as a visual indication that thedesired volume of gasoline is within the container. This indiciafunction is produced whether the container is partially or fully filled,and is dependent on the setting of the pull cable relative to the valveassembly.

Although the container described hereinabove is designed toaccommodate aoverload of rated capacity by virtue of the limited stretchability ofthe fabric and rubber walls, it is advantageous to avoid this and theresultant bursting stresses. The automatic functioning of the valveassembly 13 permitting the overflow of excess gasoline serveseffectively to protect the container against such overload and suchbursting stresses.

The valve assembly 13 may be left in its normally yielda'ble closedsetting while gasoline, for example, is. stored within the container, soas to avoid undue internal 65 :to move the valve stem structure 44 andits associated closure element 34 and open the valve assembly, and thecontainer may be lifted and moved without loss of gasoline as by .use ofthe flexible handles 21, 21.

.If the container is'mounted upon an inclined supporting surface so asto extend lengthwise down the surface, the valveiassem'bly 13 will openand permit overflow of gasoline before suflicient internal liquidpressure can be produced on the downhill side or end portion to burstthe container. However, under such conditions it may be that the valveassembly will permit overflow before the desired volume of gasoline isfilled into the container.

It will be noted that the valve assembly 13 advantageously functions asa safety valve for avoiding excessive internal fluid pressure due to agas or a liquid, and at the same time permits overflow of excesscontained fluid whenever a desired determinate volume of fluid is withinthe container. Also, with the valve assembly I 13 in its normallyyieldable closed settin the functioning of the valve assembly isautomatic and responsive to internal pressure and/or liquid conditionswithin the container, once the desired operative connection 'of themanipulated means to the valve assembly 13 has been effected .in themanner described hereinabove.

The modified construction 70-of the pressure-relief "and overflow valveassembly shown in Fig. '7 in the normally yieldable closed condition orsetting, differs in several aspects from the valve assembly 13 shown inFigs. 1, 4,

5 and 6. The body member 71 is constructed and at ranged substantiallylike that of the body member 31, except that its tubular open-endedguide element 72 of uniform cylindrical shape has a bore of uniformdiameter throughout its length. 'The continuous annular wall of theguide element 72 at the upper end portion thereof 'is' cut away toprovide diametrically opposed, oppositely generally inclined camsurfaces 73, 73 merging with and intersecting axially-extending orvertically-extending, cir

cumferentially spaced-apart guide surfaces 74, 74, all of which surfaces73, 74 intersect the upper end face of the guide element 72. The guideelement 72 at its upper end face has diametrically opposed narrow slots75, 75 therein adjacent the cam surfaces 73,73 for receiving and holdingtemporarily therein opposed projecting pins 76, 76 of a tubular valvestem 77 to provide for a locked setting of the valve assembly 70. Thevalve stem '77 is constructed and arranged without'a keyway like'keyway' 5'1 but otherwise is much the same as the valve stem 45, and isrotatable and axially slidable within the guide element '72 :in closefitting relation to the continuousga'nnular wall of the guide element72.

The externally threaded Upper-end portion of the valve stem 77 does nothave an enlarged tapered bore like the valve stem 45.. The valve stem 77has desirably a bore 77a of uniform diameter from end to end to accommo:date at its upper end portion a flanged solid plug 78 of metal having aradial slot therein for the cable 65, the

flange being normally 'seatedagainst the upper end ofthe' metal circularcap 80 and a metal washer '81 as shown in Fig. 7.

The valve stem structure constituted by the valve stem 77, plug 78, nut79, cap 80, and washer'81, also includes a coiled metal spring 82 ofsubstantially uniform diameter and of the compression type. The spring82 is disposed-about the exterior of the annular wall of the guideelement 72 and a'bout'the valve stem 77, and is supported by the portedweb of the body member 71 and by the washer '81 of the valve stemstructure.

A further difference of the modified valve assembly 7:9 is that theattaching flange 83 does not have an apertured and multiported web orcentral portion, but'instead is provided with a plurality ofcircumferentially spaced-apart upstanding segments '84, 84 arranged intelescop'ica'lly removable relation to the cap 801 The segmentedattachingflange '83 makes feasible the passage of fluidsuchLas overflowgasoline through the spaces between the segments.

I in the operation of the modified valve with the projecting pins 76, 76spaces "defined by the inclined cam surfaces 73, '73 and theverticalguide surfaces 74, 74,-the compression spring assembly 70 S2normally exerts upward force against the washer '81,

so that the valve stem 77 and the closure element34are urged upwardlyand the closure element seats 'against'the" conical seat of the bodymember 71 to close the valve assembly. However, after determinatemovement of the upper wall 11 and the valve assembly 70 relative to thebase 12 of the container 10, further movement causes the downwardpullexerted by the pull cable '65 to overcome the compressive resistanceof the spring 82, and both pins 76, 7 6 move axially'downwarduntil'theyreach the bottom 'junctions of the cam surfaces 73,73 with the "vertical guide surfaces 74, 74 at which point theclosure'element '34 has moved substantially 'awayfromthe in thegenerally V-shaped' conical seat of the body member 71 and the valveassembly 70 is open, so that trapped air, or excess gasoline, or both,can flow through the valve assembly to the exterior of the container.

To, place the valve assembly 70 in its locked condition the cap 80 andvalve stem structure are rotated clockwise so that both pins 76, 76 rideon the cam surfaces 73, 73 up to the end face of the guide element 72and then seat in the opposed slots 75, 75 of such guide element. Thisprevents any accidental opening of the valve assembly duringtransportation, for example, of the container in a filled condition.

Variations may be made without departing from the scope of the inventionas it is defined in the following claims.

I claim: r 1. An article of the class described comprising a closedcontainer for receiving fluid, the said containerincluding a first wallportion movable toward and away from an oppositely disposed second wallportion throughout a plurality of positions in response to a change inthe volume of fluid in the container to provide for a wide range offluid-capacities of said container, one of saidwall por tions having anaperture therein, a pressure-relief and overflow valve assemblyincluding a body member mounted on said one wall portion at the aperturetherein, said body member having a passage therethrough for conductingthe fluid and including a seat for a closure element, a closure elementmovable toward and away from said seat to close and open said passage,said closure element including a tubular valve stem with a bore thereincommunicating with the interior of the container, resilient meansengaging said body member and said closure element to urge the closureelement sealingly against said, seat to close said passage, sealing andretaining means mounted on said tubular valve stem in sealing relationthereto and having an opening therethrough in alignment with the valvestem bore, and a flexible tension member connected to the other wallportion of the container and extending through the bore in said valvestem and said opening in said sealing and retaining means in movablerelation thereto and extending substantially outward beyond said valveassembly at the exterior of said container, said sealing and retainingmeans engaging said tension member in sealing and releasable holdingrelationship to facilitate external adjustment of said tension member toa particular predetermined length between the movable said firstwallportion and said second wall portion within the range of said pluralityof positions of said movable saidfirst wall portion, motion of saidmovable said first Wall portion away from said second wall portion to aposition past that suflicient to take up slack in said tension membercausing said closure element to move away from said seat and open saidpassage to the exterior ofithe container to reduce the fluid-pressureinternally of said container and facilitate overflow of excess containedfluid through said passage of the valve assembly.

2. An article of the class described comprising a closed container forreceiving fiuid, the said container including an apertured first wallportion movable towardand away from an oppositely disposed second wallportion throughout a plurality of positions in response to a change inthe volume of fluid in the container to provide for a wide range offluid-capacities of said container, a pressurerelief and overflow valveassembly including a body memspring means engaging said body member andsaid closure element to normally urge the closure elementresiliently andsealingly against said seat to close said passage, 'seal ing andretaining means mounted on said tubular valve stem in said bore thereofin sealing relation thereto and having an opening therethrough inalignment with the valve stem bore, and a flexible tension membersecured to said second wall portion of the container and extendingthrough the bore in said valve stem and. said opening in said sealingand retaining means in movable relation thereto and extendingsubstantially outward beyond said valve assembly at the exterior of saidcontainer, said sealing and retaining means engaging said tension memberin sealing and releasable holding relationship to facilitate externaladjustment of said tension member to a particular predetermined lengthbetween said movable first wall portion and said second wall portionwithin the range of said plurality of positions of said movable firstwall po tion, motion of said movable first wall portion away from saidsecond wall portion to a position past that sufiicient to take up slackin said tension member causing said closure element to move away fromsaid seat and open said passage to the exterior of the container toreduce the fluid-pressure internally of said container and facilitateoverflow of excess contained fluid through said passage of the valveassembly.

3. A portable distensible-collapsible closed container for temporarystorage of fluid, said closed container com prising a bottom wall and adistensible upper wall of flexable impervious rubber-like materialsealinglly united with said bottom wall, one of said walls having anaperture therein, said upper wall being upwardly distensible relative tosaid bottom wall, under the influence ot' contained fluid, to aplurality of positions starting at said bottom wall and terminatingremote therefrom to provide for a wide range of fluid-capacities of theclosed container, a pressure-relief and overflow valve assemblyincluding a body member mounted on said one of said walls at theaperture therein, said body member having a passage therethrough forconducting the fluid and including a seat for a closure element, aclosure element movable toward and away from said seat to close and opensaid passage, said closure element including a tubular valve stem with abore therein communicating with the interior of the closed container,resilient means engaging said body member and said closure element tourge the closure element sealingly against said seat to close saidpassage, a flexible tension member connected to the other of said wallsof the container and extending through the bore in said valve stem inmovable relation thereto and extending substantially outward beyond saidvalve assembly at the exterior of said container, and sealing andretaining means mounted on said tubular valve stem in sealing relationthereto and having an opening therethrough in alignment with the valvestem bore accommodating said tension member and said sealing andretaining means engaging said tension member in sealing and releasableholding relationship to facilitate external adjustment of said tensionmember to a particular predetermined length between said bottom wall andsaid upper wall of the container within the range of said plurality ofpositions of said upper wall, upward distension of said upper wallrelative to said bottom wall to a position past that suflicient to takeup slack in said tension member causing said closure element to moveaway from said seat and open said passage to the exterior of thecontainer to reduce the fluid-pressure internally of the container andfacilitate overflow of excess contained fluid through said passage ofthe valve assembly.

4. A portable distensible-collapsible closed container for temporarystorage of fluid, said closed container comprising a base of flexibleimpervious rubber-like material and a distensible upper wall of saidrubberdike material integrally united with said base, said upper wallhaving an aperture therein and being upwardly distensible relative tosaid base, under the influence of contained fluid, to a plurality ofpositions starting at said base and terminating remote therefrom toprovide for a wide range of fluidcapacities of the closed container, apressure-relief and overflow valve assembly including a body member sealingly :attached to said distensible upper wall at the aperture thereinfor movement therewith, said body member having a passage therethroughfor conducting the fluid and a seat for a closure element, a closureelement movable toward and away from said seat to close and open saidpassage, said closure element including a tubular valve stem with a boretherethrough communicating with the interior of the closed container, aresilient metal spring engaging said body member and said closureelement to normally urge the closure element resiliently and sealinglyagainst said seat to close said passage, a flexible tension membersecured to said base of the container and extending through the bore insaid valve stem in movable relation thereto and extending substantiallyoutward beyond said valve assembly at the exterior of said upper wall,said tension member including a plurality of spacedapart adjustingelements fixedly mounted in series thereon, and resilient sealing andgripping means mounted in the bore in said tubular valve stem in sealingrelation thereto and having a bore inalignment with the valve stem boreaccommodating said tension member and being in resiiient sealing andreleasable gripping relation to an adjusting element of said tensionmember to facilitate external adjustment of said tension member to aparticular predetermined length between said base and said upper wall ofthe container within the range of said plurality of positions of saidupper wall, upward distension of said upper wall relative to said baseto a position past that suflicient to take up slack in said tensionmember causing said closure element to move away from said seat and opensaid passage'to the exterior of the container to reduce thefluid-pressure internally of the container and facilitate overflow ofexcess contained fluid through said passage of the valve assembly.

5. A portable distensible-collapsible closed container for temporarystorage of fluid, said closed container comprising flexible, impervious,textile fabric reinforced, rubber-like sheet material arranged inelongate tubular form with closed ends to provide a flexible base and adistensible upper wall and flexible end walls of the container, saidupper wall having an aperture therein intermediate said closed endsandbeing upwardly distensible relative to said base, under the influenceof contained fluid to a plurality of positions starting at said base andterminating remote therefrom to provide for a wide range ofliquid-capacities of the closed container, a pressurerelief and overflowvalve assembly comprising a ring-like body member having a relativelythick continuous annular wall, means for sealingly attaching saidannular wall directly to said upper wall at the aperture therein formovement therewith, said body member having a passage therethrough forconducting the fluid and an annular seat for a closure element, aclosure element of circular disc shape including a peripheral sealingface of elasticmaterial movable toward and away from said seat to closeand open said passage, said closure element including an outwardlyprojecting tubular valve stem with a bore therethrough communicatingwith the interior of the closed container, a resilient metal springengaging said body member and said valve stem to normally urge saidclosure element resiliently and sealingly againstsaid seat to close saidpassage, a flexible tension member attached to said base of thecontainer and extending through said bore in said valve stem in movablerelation thereto and extending substantially outward beyond said valveassembly at the exterior of said upper wall, said tension memberincluding a plurality of spaced-apart ball elements fixedly mounted inseries thereon, resilient ;sealing.and grippin'grmeans removablyvmountedin .:said bore in ,said tubular valve stem at the outer end thereof insealing relation thereto and having a bore in alignment with the valvestem bore accommodatingsaid tension mernberland being in sealing andreleasable gripping relation to a ball element of said tension member tofacilitate external adjustment of said tension member .to a particularpredetermined length between said base and said upper wall of thecontainer within the range of said positions of said upper wall, upwarddistension of said upper wall relative to said base to a position pastthat sufiicient to take up slack in said tension member causing saidclosure element to move away from said seat and open said passage to theexterior of the container to reduce the fluidpressure internally of thecontainer and facilitate overflow of excess contained fluid through saidpassage of the valve assembly, and releasable locking means at theextetier of the container mounted on said body member and engaging saidbody member and said valve stem, in the locked setting of said lockingmeans, to temporarily yet fixedly hold said closure element against saidseat and close said passage.

6. A pressure-relief and overflow valve assembly for a closed containerwherein a first wall portion of the container is movable toward and wayfrom an oppositely disposed second wall portion of the containerthroughout a plurality of positions in response to a change in thevolume of fluid in the container and one of said wall portions having anaperture therethrough, said valve assembly comprising a body member formounting on the said one wall portion at the aperture therein, said bodymember having a passage therethrough for conducting the fluid andincluding a seat for a closure element, a closure element movable towardand away from said seat to close and open said passage, said closureelement including a tubular 'valve stem having a bore therein forcommunication with the interior of the container, resilient meansengaging said body member and said closure element to urge the closureelement sealingly against said seat to close said passage, a flexibletension member for attachment to the other said wall portion of thecontainer at the interior thereof, said tension member extending throughsaid bore in said valve stem in movable relation thereto and extendingsubstantially outward beyond said valve assembly for disposition at theexterior of the container, and sealing and retaining means mounted onsaid tubular valve stem in sealing relation thereto and having anopening therethrough in alignment with the valve stem bore accommodatingsaid tension member and said sealing and retaining means engaging saidtension member in sealing and releasable holding relationship tofacilitate adjustment of said tension member externally of the containerto a particular predetermined length between the movable said first wallportion and the said second wall portion of the container within therange or said'plura'lity of positions of the movable said first wallportion of the container, whereby movement of said movable said firstwall portion relative to said second wall portion to a position pastthat sufficient to take up slack in said tension member causes saidclosure element to 'move away from said seat and open said passage forcommunication with the exterior of the container.

7. A pressure-relief and overflow valve assembly for a portabledistensible-collapsible closed container of flexible impervious materialwherein an apertured distensible upper wall of the containerismovable'toward and away from a base of the container throughout aplurality of positions starting at said base and terminating remotetherefrom to provide for a wide range of fluid-capacities of thecontainer, said valve assembly comprising a'body 7 member for mountingon the distensible upper wall of the container at the aperture thereinfor movement therewith, said body member having a passagetherethroughffor conducting the fluid and a seat for a closure element,,a closure element movable toward and away from 'said seat to close andopensaid passage,.said closure element including a tubular valve stemhaving 'a :bore therein for communication with the interior of thecontainer, resilient spring means engaging said body member and saidclosure element to normally urge the closure element resiliently andsealingly against said seat to close said passage, a flexible tensionmember for attachment tiallyoutward beyond said valve assembly fordisposi tion at the exterior of saidupper wall of the container, saidtension member including a plurality of spacedapart adjusting elementsfixedly mounted in series thereon, sealing and retaining means mountedin said bore in said valve stem in sealing relation thereto and havingan opening therethrough in alignment with the valve stem boreaccommodating said tension member and being in sealing and adjustableretaining relation to an adjusting element of said tension member tofacilitate adjustment of said tension member externally of the containerto a particular predetermined length between the base and the upper wallof the container within the range of said plurality of positions of theupper wall of the container, whereby distension of said upper wallrelative to said base, under the influence of contained fluid, to aposition past that suflicient to take up slack in said tension membercauses said closure element to movetaway from said seat and open saidpassage for communication with the exterior of the container, andlocking means for engaging said body member and said closure element totemporarily hold said closure element against said seat and close saidpassage.

8. A pressure-relieftand overflow valve assembly for a portable,distensible-collapsible closed container of flexible impervious materialwherein an apertured distensible upper wall of the container is movabletoward and away home base of the container throughout a plurality ofpositions starting at said base and terminating remote therefrom toprovide for a wide range of fluid-capacities of the container, saidvalve assembly comprising a body member for sealing attachmentto thedistensible upper wall of the container at the aperture therein for movement therewith, said body member having a relatively thick continuousannular wall defining a passage for conducting the fluid and providingan annular seat for a closure element, a closure element including aperipheral seating surface thereof movable toward and away from saidseat to close and open said passage, said closure element including atubular valve stem projecting outwardly therefrom and having a boretherein for communication with the interior of the container, aresilient metal spring mounted on said body member and engaging saidbody member and said valve stem to normally urge said seating surface ofthe closure element resiliently and sealingly against said seat to closesaid passage, a flexible tension member for attachment to said base ofthe container at the interior thereof, said tension member extendingthrough said bore in said valve stem in movable relation thereto andextending substantially outward beyond said valve assembly fordisposition at the exterior of said upper wall of the container, saidtension member including a plurality of spaced-apart ball elementsfixedly mounted in series thereon, and resilient sealing and grippingmeans mounted in said bore in said valve stem in sealing relationthereto and having a bore in alignment with the valve stem boreaccommodating said tension member and being in sealing and releasablegripping relation to a ball element of said tension member to facilitateexternal adjustment of said tension member to a particular predeterminedlength between the base and the upper wall of the container within therange of said plurality of positions of the upper wall, wherebydistension of said upper wall relative to said base, under the influenceof contained fluid, to a position past that sufficient to take up slackin said tension member causes said closure element to move away fromsaid seat and open said passage for communication with the exterior ofthe container.

9. A pressurerelief and overflow valve assembly for a portabledistensible-collapsible closed container of flexible impervious materialwherein an apertured distensible upper wall of the container is movabletoward and away from a base of the container throughout a plurality ofpositions starting at said base and terminating remote therefrom toprovide for a wide range of fluid-capacities of the container, saidvalve assembly comprising a ring like body member for sealing attachmentto the distensible upper wall of the container at the aperture thereinfor movement therewith, said body member having a relatively thickcontinuous annular wall defining a passage for conducting the fluid andproviding a continuous annular seat for a closure element, a closureelement of generally round disc shape including a continuous annularelastic peripheral seating surface thereof movable toward and away fromsaid seat to close and open said passage, said closure element includinga tubular valve stem projecting axially outward therefrom and having abore therethrough for communication with the interior of the container,a resilient coil spring disposed telescopically about said valve stemand engaging said body member and said valve stem to normally urge saidclosure element including its seating surface resiliently and sealinglyagainst said seat to close said passage, a flexible tension member forattachment to the base of the container at the interior thereof, saidtension member extending through said bore in said valve stem in movablerelation thereto and extending substantially outward be- A yond saidvalve assembly for disposition at the exterior of said upper wall of thecontainer, said tension member including a plurality of spaced-apartball elements fixedly mounted in series thereon, and a resilient rubbersealing and gripping element mounted in said bore in said valve stem insealing relation thereto and having a bore in alignment with the valvestem bore accommodating said tension member therethrough and being insealing and releasable gripping relation to a ball element of saidtension member to facilitate external adjustment of said tension memberto a particular predetermined length between the base and the upper wallof the container within the range of said plurality of positions of theupper wall of the container, whereby distension of said upper wallrelative to said base, under the influence of contained fluid, to aposition past that suificient to take up slack in said tension membercauses said closure element to move away from said seat and open saidpassage for communication with the exterior of the container.

10. A pressure-relief and overflow valve assembly for a portabledistensible-collapsible closed container of flexible impervious materialwherein an apertured distensible upper wall of the container is movabletoward and away from a base of the container throughout a plurality ofpositions starting at said base and terminating remote therefrom toprovide for a wide range of fluid-capacities of the container, saidvalve assembly comprising a ringlike body member for mounting on theupper wall of the containertat the aperture therein for movementtherewith, said body member having axially spaced-apart end faces and arelatively thick continuous annular wall therebetween defining a passageextending axially from one end face to the other end face of said bodymember for conducting the fluid and said wall providing a continuousannular seat at and inwardly inclined relative to one end face fordisposition at the interior of the container and for contacting aclosure element, said body member including a tubular guide elementextending axially in said passage with an axial bore therethrough andincluding a multi-ported internal web interconnecting said annular walland said guide element, a closure element of circular disc shapeincluding a continuous annular elastic peripheral seating surfacethereof inwardly inclined relative to said one end face of said bodymember movable toward and away from said seat to close and open saidpassage, said closure element including a tubular valve stem slid- 15ably mounted in said ,bore in said guide element and extendingoutwardlybeyond theguide element and having a bore therethrough for communicationwith ,the interior of the container, a resilient coil compression,spring mounted on said guide element and disposed telescopically aboutand along said valve stem and engaging said body member and said valvestem to normally urge said closure element including said, seatingsurface thereof sealing-1y against and in mating relation to said seatto close said passage, a flexible tension member of metal I wirematerial for attachment to said base of the con tainer at the interiorthereof, said tension member extending through said bore in said valvestem in movable relation thereto and extending substantially outwardbeyond said valve assembly for disposition at the exterior of the upperwall of the container, said tension'member including a ,plurality-ofspaced-apart metal ball elements fixedly mounted in series thereon,sealing and retaining means mounted in said bore in said valve stem insealing relation thereto at the end thereof outwardly beyond said guideelement and having a bore in alignment with the valve stem boreaccommodating said tension member and being in sealing and releasableretaining relation to a ball element'of said tension member tofacilitate ex ternal adjustment of said tension member to a particularpredetermined length between the base and the upper wall of thecontainer within the range of said plurality, of positions of the upperwall of the container, whereby distension of said upper wall relative tosaid base, under the influence of contained fluid, to a position pastthat sufficient .to take up slack in said tension member causes saidclosure element to move away from said seat and open said passage forcommunication with the exterior of the container, and cam locking meanssupported by said body .member at the exterior of said valve assemblyfor engaging said valve stem and said guide element, in the lockedcondition of said locking means, to fixedly yet temporarily hold saidclosure element matingly against said seat for preventing accidentalspillage of contained fluid when moving the filled container.

References Cited inthe file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,645,313 Wiggins ..'Oct. 11, 1927- 1,917,623 Wiggins July 11, 19332,168,891 Wiggins Aug.'8, 1939 2,35 5,084 Kurrle Aug. 8, 1944 2,612,924Cunningham Oct. 7, 19'52

